Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Communication between stations and vehicles
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of transfer of messages from a
station to an equipment located in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
There is often a need to transfer messages from a traffic toll station to
vehicles passing the toll station. Many vehicles are equipped with so called
transponders able to communicate with the toll station. The transponder
includes a transmitter and a receiver able to receive a message from the toll
station and transmit information to the toll station. The communication can be
DSRC-based (Dedicated Short Range Communication) where various
standards exists, e.g. the CEN-standard (European Committee for
Standardization) in the 5.8 GHz band. The transponder can be equipped with
a configurable buzzer that can convey coded messages to the vehicle such
as e.g.:
= OK
= Not OK
= Contact operator.
The message can be coded through a series of beeps or different tones.
The transponder can send an identification message to the toll station thus
allowing Electronic Fee Collection as the car is passing the toll station
without
stopping.
The buzzers in transponders of today are generally simple piezo-electric
buzzers. These buzzers do not have a sufficient sound quality for a voice
message. To solve this problem more expensive buzzers have to be installed
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in the transponders. Even if high quality buzzers are installed in the
transponders, a voice message from the transponder may be difficult to hear
due to other sound sources in the vehicle as e.g. radio, TV or mobile phone.
Figure 1 schematically shows a prior art solution of a vehicle mounted
transponder 101 with an antenna 102 receiving a message from a toll station
and outputting a coded message via a buzzer 103. The transponder is also
capable of transmitting an identification message back to the toll station.
US 6344504 B1 describes how a message from a toll station can be
transferred to a vehicle unit in a vehicle and transferred to a voice message
to be sent to an audio system in the vehicle. The transfer from the vehicle
unit to the audio system is not described in detail. A transfer of a coded
message to a synthesized voice signal is performed in the vehicle unit. When
such a synthesized message is generated a switching unit is outputting the
synthesized message to the audio system of the vehicle. This is a relatively
complicated solution where modifications to the audio system have to be
implemented.
There is thus a need for an improved solution for transferring messages from
a toll station to a vehicle.
SUMMARY
The object of the invention is to reduce at least some of the mentioned
deficiencies with the prior art solutions and to provide:
= an On Board Equipment for mounting on a vehicle,
= a method for transferring a message from a station to a vehicle using
the On Board Equipment and
= a traffic information system comprising the OBE
3
to solve the problem to achieve an improved solution for transferring messages
from a station, such as a toll station, to a vehicle.
The object is achieved by providing an On Board Equipment, OBE, suitable for
mounting on a vehicle, the OBE comprising an OBE antenna connected to an
OBE transmit/receive unit, the OBE antenna being arranged to receive a signal
from a station via a first wireless communication link, the signal comprising
at least
one traffic information message from the station, the OBE being arranged to
convert the traffic information message for transfer to an audio output
through at
least one speaker in an existing audio system of the vehicle, wherein the
transfer
of the traffic information message to the existing audio system is arranged to
be
performed via a second wireless communication link where the traffic
information
message is arranged to be picked up by standard receiving means of the
existing
audio system and to be delivered as a voice message on the speakers through a
prioritized channel of the existing audio system, wherein the OBE comprises a
Control Unit, CU, having a CU input terminal and a first and a second CU
output
terminal, the output terminal of the OBE transmit/receive unit being connected
to
the CU input terminal, the CU being arranged to convert an output signal from
the
OBE transmit/receive unit to a format suitable to be transmitted via the
second
wireless communication link, the converted message format being arranged to be
available at the first CU output terminal.
The object is further achieved by a method for transferring a message from a
station to a vehicle using an On Board Equipment, OBE, mounted on the vehicle,
the OBE having an OBE antenna connected to an OBE transmit/receive unit
where the method comprises the steps of:
= using the OBE antenna for receiving a signal from a station via a first
wireless communication link, the signal comprising at least one traffic
information message from the station,
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= using the OBE to convert the traffic information message for transfer to
an
audio output through at least one speaker in an existing audio system of the
vehicle,
wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
= performing the transfer of the traffic information message to the
existing
audio system via a second wireless communication link,
= picking up the traffic information message by standard receiving means of
the existing audio system and
= delivering the traffic information message as a voice message on the
speakers through a prioritized channel of the existing audio system.
The object is still further achieved by a traffic information system, wherein
the
traffic information system comprises:
= a station comprising a transmit/receive unit
= the OBE disclosed herein,
= a first wireless communication link between the station and the OBE and
= a second wireless communication link, between the OBE and the existing
audio system located in the vehicle, arranged for transfer of the traffic
information message to the existing audio system.
Further advantages are achieved if the invention is also given one or several
characteristics according to the dependent claims not mentioned above. This
will
be further explained below.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 schematically shows a prior art solution of a vehicle mounted
transponder.
Figure 2 schematically shows a block diagram of an example of a traffic
information system according to the invention with an example of an On Board
Equipment according to the invention.
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CA 02745305 2011-07-06
Figure 3 schematically shows a block diagram of a further example of a traffic
information system according to the invention with a further example of an
On Board Equipment according to the invention.
5 Figure 4 schematically shows a block diagram of an example of
implementation of a second wireless communication link according to the
invention.
Figure 5 schematically shows a block diagram of an example of the method
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings,
Figure 1 has already been described in the Background part above.
Figure 2 schematically shows a block diagram of an example of a traffic
information system 200 with an example of an On Board Equipment, OBE,
201 according to the invention.
The OBE, suitable for mounting on a vehicle, comprises an OBE antenna
202 connected to an OBE transmit/receive unit 203, the OBE antenna being
arranged to receive an RF signal from a station 204 via a transmit/receive
unit 205, a transmit/receive antenna 206 and a first communication link 207.
The RF signal comprises at least one traffic information message from the
station. The OBE is arranged to convert the traffic information message for
transfer to an audio output through at least one speaker 208 in an existing
audio system 209 of the vehicle. Said transfer of the traffic information
message to the existing audio system is arranged to be performed via a
second communication link 210 where the traffic information message is
arranged to be picked up by standard receiving means of the existing audio
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system and to be delivered as a voice message on said speakers through a
prioritized channel of the existing audio system.
The existing audio system, mounted in the vehicle, can be a standard audio
product comprising e.g. an FM radio receiver and CD player connected to a
speaker system as will be explained. The existing audio system may also
include a Bluetooth receiver or other short range receiving system.
The station 204 is typically a toll station for electronic fee collection. The
invention is exemplified with the station 204 being a toll station but the
invention is also applicable to other stations. Some examples of other types
of stations are also described.
The OBE transmit/receive unit 203 comprises an OBE antenna terminal 211
connected to the OBE antenna 202 and an OBE output terminal 212. An
identification message, comprising an identification of the vehicle, is
arranged
to be transmitted from the OBE 201 via the first communication link 207 to
the toll station 204.
In one example of the invention the first communication link 207 is a
Dedicated Short Range Communication, DSRC link with a DSRC
transmit/receive unit as the transmit/receive unit at the toil station 204 and
with a further DSRC transmit/receive unit as the OBE transmit/receive unit
203, the DSRC transmit/receive unit at the OBE being arranged to receive
the RF-signal from the OBE-antenna 202 at the OBE antenna terminal 211.
The identification message is preferably arranged to be transmitted from the
OBE antenna 202 via the first communication link 207 to the toll station 204
when the OBE-equipped vehicle passes the station 204. The identification
message is in one example of the invention generated in the OBE, after a
request for identification message has been sent from the station to the OBE,
by conventional means used for transponder functions and well known to the
skilled person. In this example it means that the request for identification
is
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sent when the OBE-equipped vehicle passes the station and is within the
reach of the first communication link. The first communication link can also
be any other suitable wireless communication link, such as e.g. a short range
infrared link or Bluetooth link.
The identification message can use the OBE antenna 202 for transmitting the
message to the toll station. The switching of the OBE antenna between
receive and transmit mode can be arranged with any conventional solution,
well known to the skilled person, using e.g. a duplexer or circulator. It is
also
possible to have a separate antenna for transmitting the identification
message to the toll station. In this case there is no need for a duplexer or
circulator.
As mentioned above in association with the description of figure 2, the
station
is typically a stationary toll station. The position of the vehicle when the
identification message is sent from the vehicle to the station is henceforth
defined as a gantry position, a virtual gantry position or a position at a
predetermined point of time. In the example of figure 2, when a DSRC link is
used as the first communication link, the gantry position coincides with the
position of the station. A gantry is typically a gate at the toll station
where
information is exchanged between the vehicle and toll station when the
vehicle is passing in the vicinity of the gantry. In this example the position
of
the vehicle is thus substantially the same as the position of the toll station
and the gantry and the identification message is thus sent when the OBE-
equipped vehicle passes the station. There are however also examples of the
invention where the gantry position is not the same as the position of the
station. In these examples of the invention there is one position for the
station
and separate positions for one or several virtual gantries as will be
explained
in association with figure 3 and in these examples the position of the vehicle
has to be defined by using a positioning system such as GPS (Global
Positioning System).
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In a traffic information system using virtual gantries, each virtual gantry is
defined as being located at a certain predetermined geographical position.
These predetermined virtual gantry positions are normally stored in the OBE,
preferably in the CU. When the vehicle has reached the predetermined virtual
gantry positions, an identification message is transmitted via the first
communication link. The information of positions of the virtual gantries can
also be sent to the OBE via the first communication link. This facility for
transfer of positions of virtual gantries via the first communication link is
primarily used for updating of these positions. An example of the invention
using virtual gantries is illustrated in figure 3, where the first
communication
link 207 is a cellular communication link 301, e.g. a GSM link (Global System
for Mobile communication) as shown in figure 3, with a cellular
transmit/receive unit such as a GSM transmit/receive unit 302 at the station
working as the transmit/receive unit 205 and the OBE transmit/receive unit
203 comprises a cellular transmit/receive unit 303, in this example a GSM
transmit/receive unit, arranged to receive the RF-signal from the OBE
antenna 202 at the OBE antenna terminal 211. The station 204 is in this
example a cellular base station 307 for GSM with a cellular antenna 308. The
cellular transmit/receive unit at the station is suitable for a base station
and
the transmit/receive unit at the OBE is suitable for a mobile device. The OBE
201 further comprises a GPS receiver 304 with its GPS antenna 305. The
OBE is arranged to transmit the identification message, optionally including
the current position of the vehicle according to the GPS, via the first
wireless
communication link to the station 307 when a predetermined virtual gantry
position is reached by the OBE-equipped vehicle. The function of comparing
actual position of the vehicle with the predetermined virtual gantry positions
is
arranged to be performed in the OBE, preferably in a Control Unit, Cu, 213.
The GPS receiver with its antenna can be a separate unit, as shown in figure
3, communicating with the cellular transmit/receive unit 303 or with the CU
213 as indicated with the dotted arrow 306. The GPS receiver with antenna
can also be integrated in the GSM transmit/receive unit 303 or the CU 213.
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The station can, over and above a transmit/receive unit with associated
antenna, e.g. also comprise means arranged for generating e.g. traffic
information messages, requests for identification and instruction messages to
be transmitted via the transmit/receive unit at the station and the first
communication link and means arranged for processing, storing and
analyzing information received via the first communication link. These means
are often colocated with the station when the station is configured as a toll
station with a colocated gantry. In other applications, e.g. with the station
configured for using a cellular communication link as the first communication
link, these means can be located elsewhere, e.g. at a main station, and be
connected to the station with a further communication link.
By using virtual gantries it will be possible to charge a vehicle depending on
which virtual gantry positions that have been passed without requiring
physical gantries. The calculation of the distance travelled and the fee can
preferably be performed at the station or the main station based on position
reports via the identification message. However the calculation of the
distance travelled and the corresponding fee can also be calculated in the
OBE, e.g. in the CU, and sent to the station or the main station together with
the identification message. The identification message thus includes the
identification of the vehicle and optionally additional information comprising
its current position and/or distance travelled, the distance travelled
optionally
being converted to a fee. When a gantry position is reached, the
identification
message is generated in the OBE by conventional means used for
transponder functions and well known to the skilled person as described
earlier. The identification message can however also be generated in the
OBE automatically when a virtual gantry position is reached. The first
communication link can be any suitable communication link based on e.g. a
cellular system such as GSM, including newer versions as GPRS (General
Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced data Rates for GSM Evolution),
HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) or a 3G (third generation) or an
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LTE (Long Term Evolution) or a 4G system. In other respects the example of
figure 3 corresponds to the example of the invention illustrated in figure 2.
The cellular communication link 301 is extending between a cellular base
5 station 307 and the OBE. The cellular base station receiving the
identification
message from the OBE via the cellular communication link 301 can be the
same cellular base station transmitting the at least one traffic information
message to the OBE via the cellular communication link or another cellular
base station depending on the operational conditions of the cellular system
10 used and distances between virtual gantry positions and different
cellular
base stations.
VVhen the first communication link is a cellular link, reporting of
identification
is made by transmitting the identification message when predetermined
virtual gantry positions are reached. An alternative to this is that the OBE
transmits the identification message at a regular schedule, e.g. every third
minute, i.e. at a position reached by the OBE-equipped vehicle at a
predetermined point of time. In this example a request for identification
message is thus not required. Calculation of fees can then be made locally at
the OBE or at the station or the main station as described above.
The station can also be a mobile unit, preferably using a DSRC link, and
temporarily located at e.g. certain roads where a heavy traffic is expected in
association with special events as e.g. exhibitions. A further application,
made possible with the invention, is to temporarily locate the mobile unit at
e.g. a roadwork in order to inform passing vehicles of the situation. In the
latter of these two applications there is no need to transmit an
identification
message to the station and a positioning function as a GPS receiver is not
needed in the OBE.
A further application of the invention when the station is a mobile unit is to
operate the station when the station is moving. This can be used e.g. in
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"enforcement of fee applications" when it is desirable to check the presence
and operation of an OBE in a certain vehicle by locating the mobile unit
close to the vehicle to be checked. The function of this application otherwise
corresponds to the example with a DSRC link described in association with
figure 2.
The OBE further comprises the Control Unit, CU, 213 having a CU input
terminal 214 and a first 215 and a second 216 CU output terminal, see
figures 2 and 3. The output terminal 212 of the OBE transmit/receive unit 203
is connected to the CU input terminal 214. The output terminal 212 of the
OBE transmit/receive unit is thus the same terminal as the CU input terminal
214. The CU is arranged to convert an output signal from the OBE
transmit/receive unit to a format suitable to be transmitted via the second
communication link 210. The converted message format is arranged to be
available at the first CU output terminal 215.
The second CU output terminal 216 can optionally be connected to a buzzer
unit 217 arranged to deliver said traffic information message in a coded form
as a series of beeps or different tones. This arrangement can e.g. be used as
a back-up system in case the existing audio system is out of service or not in
operation.
In one example of the invention the second communication link 210 is a short
range FM-radio communication link comprising RDS/RBDS (Radio Data
System/Radio Broadcast Data System). An FM radio transmitter 218 is
incorporated in the OBE. RBDS is the official name used for the US version
of RDS. The RDS is a communication protocol where digital information is
integrated in an FM radio broadcast. The FM radio (FM=Frequency
Modulation) transmitter comprises an FM input terminal 219 and an FM
output terminal 220. The FM input terminal 219 is connected to the first CU
output terminal 215 (the first CU output terminal 215 is thus the same
terminal as the FM input terminal 219) and the FM output terminal 220 is
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connected to an FM radio antenna 221 arranged to transmit an FM signal
including said traffic information message with integrated digital information
from the FM radio antenna 221 via the second wireless communication link
210 to an FM receive antenna 222 at the existing audio system 209. Said
receive antenna 222 being connected to an FM receiver of the existing audio
system arranged to deliver said traffic information message as a voice
message to said speakers 208 through the prioritized channel of the existing
audio system 209.
The prioritized channel of the existing audio system is the channel used by
the RDS/RBDS system to send traffic information. This means that when a
traffic information message is sent from the FM transmitter 218, the
RDS/RBDS function will cause the existing audio system to stop the tape,
pause the CD or interrupt a tuned radio channel in order to retune the radio
receiver to the prioritized channel when the message is received at the
existing audio system. When the traffic information message is delivered the
existing audio system returns to its previous activity. A prerequisite for
this
arrangement is of course that the receiver of the existing audio system is
equipped also with the RDS/RBDS function.
A suitable frequency for transfer of said traffic information message over the
second communication link is selected using existing technology.
In a further example of the invention, illustrated in figure 4, the second
communication link is a Bluetooth communication link 401. A Bluetooth
transmitter 402 is incorporated in the OBE. The Bluetooth transmitter
comprising a BT (Bluetooth) input terminal 403 and a BT output terminal 404.
The BT input terminal 403 is connected to the first CU output terminal 215 of
the CU 213. The BT output terminal 404 is connected to a Bluetooth antenna
406 arranged to transmit a Bluetooth signal including said traffic information
message from th e Bluetooth antenna 406 via th e second wireless
communication link 401 to a BT receive antenna 407 of the existing audio
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system 209. Said receive antenna being connected to a Bluetooth receiver of
the existing audio system 209 arranged to deliver said traffic information
message as a voice message to said speakers 208 through the prioritized
channel of the existing audio system. The second CU output terminal 216 is
connected to the buzzer 217. In other respects the realization of the OBE of
figure 4 corresponds to the realizations illustrated in figures 2 or 3. In
order
for a realization of the invention with the second communication link being a
Bluetooth link to work, the existing audio system must be equipped also with
a Bluetooth receiver having a priority function similar to the RDS function
described above. This means that when the existing audio system receives a
Bluetooth signal, ongoing activities of the existing audio system is stopped
and the message sent with the Bluetooth signal is processed and outputted
on said speakers.
The invention also includes a method for transferring a message from a
station 204, 307 to a vehicle using an On Board Equipment, OBE 201,
mounted on the vehicle. The OBE has an OBE antenna 202 connected to an
OBE transmit/receive unit 203 where the method comprises the following
steps as schematically illustrated in figure 5:
= using the OBE antenna 202 for receiving 501 an RF signal from a
station 204, 307 via a first communication link 207, 301, the RF signal
comprising at least one traffic information message from the station,
= using the OBE 201 to convert 502 said traffic information message for
transfer to an audio output through at least one speaker 208 in an
existing audio system 209 of the vehicle,
wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
= performing said transfer 503 of the traffic information message to the
existing audio system 209 via a second communication link 210, 401,
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= picking up 504 said traffic information message by standard receiving
means of the existing audio system 209 and
= delivering 505 said traffic information message as a voice message on
said speakers 208 through a prioritized channel of the existing audio
system.
In one example of the method of the invention the method comprises the
additional step 506 of transmitting an identification message from the OBE
201 via the OBE antenna 202, or a separate antenna, and the first
communication link 207, 301 to the station 204, 307.
In one example of the method of the invention said traffic information
message is sent as an audio file, e.g. as an MP-3 file, on the first
communication link. MP-3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio layer 3, and is part of
the MPEG-1 standard for compressing of audio files and is well known to the
skilled person.
In one example of the method of the invention the OBE 201 uses means for:
= storing predetermined traffic information messages in the OBE, a
certain message is transferred to the input terminal 214 of the Control
Unit, CU, 213 after receipt of an instruction message from the station
204, 307 via the OBE transmit/receive unit 203, the instruction
message defining which message to be sent,
= converting in the CU 213 the predetermined message to a format
suitable to be transmitted via the second communication link 210, 401,
the converted message format being available at the first CU output
terminal 215.
The invention also includes a traffic information system 200; wherein the
traffic information system comprises:
= a station 204, 307 comprising the transmit/receive unit 205, 302
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= the OBE 201 according to any one of the claims 1-10,
= a first wireless communication link 207, 301 between the station and
the OBE 201 and
= a second wireless communication link 210, 401, between the OBE 201
and the existing audio system 209 located in the vehicle, arranged for
transfer of the traffic information message to the existing audio system
209.
The traffic information system is preferably used in an application as a
traffic
toll information system where the station is a toll station.
The traffic information message is preferably arranged to be sent as an audio
file, e.g. an MP-3 file, on the first communication link. As an alternative
the
OBE comprises means for storing predetermined traffic information
messages in the OBE. A certain instruction message is arranged to be
transferred to the input terminal 214 of the CU 213, after receipt of the
instruction message from the station 204, 307, via the OBE transmit/receive
unit 203. The instruction message defines which predetermined traffic
information message to be sent. The CU comprises means to convert the
predetermined traffic information message to a format suitable to be
transmitted via the second communication link 210, 401. The converted
message format is arranged to be available at the first CU output terminal
215.
The systems DSRC, Bluetooth, RDS/RBDS, GPS, GSM, GPRS, EDGE,
HSCSD, LTE, 3G and 4G mentioned in the description are well known to the
skilled person and therefore here not further explained or discussed.
A station can thus e.g. be:
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= a stationary station 204 with at least one colocated gantry arranged for
using a short range link as e.g. a DSRC fink as the first communication
link 207 and arranged for receiving identification messages when the
OBE-equipped vehicle passes the station or
= a stationary station 307 arranged for using a cellular link as the first
communication link 301 and arranged for receiving identification
messages when virtual gantry positions, corresponding to
predetermined positions, are reached by OBE-equipped vehicles or
= a stationary station 307 arranged for using a cellular link as the first
communication link 301 and arranged for receiving identification
messages at positions reached by the OBE-equipped vehicle at
predetermined points of time or
= a mobile station 204 temporarily located at a certain position, or
arranged for operation being in motion, and otherwise functioning as a
stationary station with a colocated gantry.
The invention also includes a traffic information system where the station
comprises either one of the above mentioned types of stations. A station
always comprises a transmit/receive unit with associated antenna.
Radio Frequency (RF) is a frequency of electromagnetic radiation below
around 300 GHz, i.e. it includes e.g. frequencies for radio, TV and all kinds
of
radio communication such as FM radio, Bluetooth, GSM and 3G.
The first and second communication links are wireless communication links
as described and the signal received at the OBE antenna from the station via
the first communication link is preferably an RF signal as described.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described
above, but may vary freely within the scope of the amended claims.
